Near Death Experiences--Part 3

Today's "Sunday Reflections" blog is the third in a four part series reviewing books on the subject of Near Death Experience. The reviews are written by four clergy in the Forest Hills and Regent Square area. Today's column is by Rev. Ron Breight, looking at the book, I Went to Hell, by Kenneth Hagin, published by RHEMA Bible Church (1982).

It should be noted that the publisher of this book, RHEMA Bible Church, is part of Kenneth Hagin Ministries. Kenneth E. Hagin (1917-2003) was a preacher / Bible teacher in the Pentecostal and faith healing tradition. Hagin's teaching included may non-orthodox and idiosyncratic elements on Christian theology. Hagin made claims of visions and direct revelation that many have found to be dubious.

Following is Rev. Breight's synopsis of I Went to Hell:

Mr. Hagin was born prematurely and with a deformed heart. His health was bad from his first day. At the age of fifteen, Ken was bedridden because of his heart. At this time his heart stopped three times. He records his experience after each of these three episodes.

He could feel his body become numb after his heart stopped. Next he described himself as "jumping" out of his body like a driver jumps off the diving board. He descended down to a pit. His family said his last good-bye sounded like it came from a cave or cavern. He then found himself in total darkness. As he descended the temperature became hotter. He saw what he described as the entrance to hell. There were orange flames. A creature met him at the bottom of the pit and took Ken by the arm and led him in. The male voice spoke something in a foreign tongue and the entire place shook. Ken then felt something "sucking" him back up. He could see light above as one looking up from the bottom of a well. He then found himself on the porch of his Grandpa’s house where he was living. He went through the wall and could see his Grandma holding his body. He leaped back into his body and began talking with his Grandma.

His heart stopped again. He experienced the same events, this time coming back up to the foot of his bed, rather than the front porch. He talked some more with his Grandma, inquiring as to the whereabouts of his Father and brother.

His heart stopped for the third time. He recounts that he experienced the "outer darkness" as mentioned in the Scriptures. Events transpired as before, but as he was coming back up he was praying. The praying continued in his own voice as he re-entered his body. A sense of great peace came upon him. He had been gone for 10 minutes.

Ron Breight

Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Forest Hills

(Sunday Reflections for August 11, 2013)